Rain, snow or extreme heat means indoor recess. Students have energy to burn and nowhere to burn it. Coloring won’t replace movement, but it gives students a calm, social option alongside more active choices.
Set up choices
Offer several stations:
- Coloring station
- Building blocks or LEGO
- Board games
- Movement videos or dance
- Reading nook
Students choose, and coloring becomes the calm corner of a busy room.
The indoor recess bin
Keep a bin ready with:
- Crayons, colored pencils and markers
- A stack of coloring pages
- Blank paper
- A few coloring books
Pull it out whenever indoor recess is announced.
Group projects
- Class mural: each student colors characters to add to a big scene. A mixed book like Trace Then Color: Cool Stuff provides variety.
- Monster parade: everyone colors a monster and they’re lined up across the board. Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Monsters.
Coloring games
- Roll a color
- Coloring relay
- Speed coloring
See coloring games for family night, which work in classrooms too.
Movement matters
Indoor recess should still include movement. Pair coloring with dance breaks or stretching.
Questions teachers ask
How do I keep indoor recess calm?
Clear choices, a calm coloring station and simple rules help.
What if everyone wants to color?
Great. Have enough supplies, or set up a rotation.
Can coloring count as recess?
It’s a fine choice, but students also need movement. Offer both.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
